[phaseshift]

What do you consider to be the top three tube amps?

 

[PFKMan23]

Overall aka price not an issue? For dynamic headphones? Electrostats?

 

[Davesrose]

Well certainly the RAS B-52 and Single Power SDS XLR should be the top two

 

[phaseshift]

For Dynamic headphones. Price no more than $850.00.

 

[Mrvile]

What about the ES-1?

EDIT: Oops missed both criteria.

 

[guzziguy]

The best I've heard at that price is a (used) SinglePower PPX3 Slam. Be warned that as you can see from post count, I haven't heard a lot of tubed amps at that price and YMMV.

 

[sacd lover]

1) Singlepower PPX3 SLAM $899 .... slightly over I know.
2) Singlepower PPX3-6CG7 $685
3) Mapletree ear+ $595

The SLAM is the best to my ears for driving any headphone. Besides the SLAM the PPX3-6CG7 is my second choice especially if you are using headphones above 100 ohms. The Ear+ is a very good match for grados but has never been to my taste for high impedence headphones like my senn 580/600.

 

[Skylab]

> Singlepower PPX3-6CG7 $685

> Antique Sound Lab MG Head 32 for $695

There is also the Cayin and the Vincent tube amos right in that price range, but I haven't heard them.

 

[vcoheda]

$850 is a bad price range. Youy have to up it a bit, so you can add the SP Extreme or RS Raptor. One of those would be my choice for a tube amp in the $1000 price range.